LAW enforcers, government officials, candidates and other stakeholders in Moises Padilla town, Negros Occidental have expressed optimism that this year's elections in the locality will be peaceful despite being tagged as an area of grave concern.
Lieutenant Colonel Melvin Flores, commander of the 62nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, said they are a bit frustrated following the identification of Moises Padilla as an area for grave concern by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Other areas in Negros Occidental under areas of grave concern or Category 3 are Candoni and Escalante City, due to the presence of the New People's Army (NPA), with intense political rivalry and presence of some armed groups.
Under Category 1, or area of concern, is Don Salvador Benedicto, while areas of immediate concern or Category 2 included Manapla, Silay City, Victorias City, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, Toboso, Kabankalan City and Hinoba-an.
Comelec-Negros Occidental earlier said that the list was recommended by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and has been submitted to the Regional Joint Security Control Center chaired by the director of Comelec-Western Visayas.
"Moises Padilla is now peaceful [compared to the previous elections]," said Flores, who spoke at the signing of the peace covenant at the town yesterday, February 8.
He called on the candidates to "go for safe and accurate elections by promoting fair campaigning, especially among your supporters."
For his part, Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station chief Major Randy Babor, who was also present at the activity, said although the town was categorized as "red" in terms of poll situation assessment due to previous election incidents, it is so far so good as they have not recorded any election-related violations and violence.
In 2019 elections, the town was placed under Comelec control following the killing of two reelectionist councilors, along with other violent incidents.
Babor said they are hopeful to maintain a status where a peace and order prevails, and that is why a peace covenant signing is conducted not just because it is a requirement but as a means to promote a violent-free 2022 national and local elections.
"I am very positive that candidates will adhere to peace and order and not violate the law," he said, assuring the public that the police will stick to its mandate of maintaining neutrality and enforce the necessary laws during the conduct of the elections.
There three candidates vying for the top post in Moises Padilla, four for vice mayor, and 20 for councilor.
They signed the peace covenant Tuesday, February 8, in the presence of PNP and AFP officials, and representatives from different religious groups who offered prayers for peace covenant.
Incumbent Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, on the sidelines of the signing, said there was a basis for the declaration of Moises Padilla as an area of concern citing the killings of her two family members in 2019.
Garcia-Yulo, though, said one advantage of being included in the list is that the police and army are giving attention and making sure that the elections will really enable the people to vote for whom they really wanted to be elected.
The reelectionist mayor also said "we should not be complacent as someone from the back whose influence is not that strong anymore may also have plans that we don't know."
"We can say that this election is more peaceful compared to before, but we are not lowering our guards," adding that "to the supporters, we, candidates would like to show that our only goal is to serve the public, thus, the peace should really come from us so let us avoid conflict."
Moreover, the signed covenant stated that candidates swear to focus on their respective platform of government and to refrain from attacking the personal lives of their fellow candidates during the campaign period.
They vowed to avoid vote buying, all forms of election fraud and use of threats; refrain from spending beyond what is lawfully permitted; held accountable for the actions of their campaign leaders; and accept nobly the results of the elections.
Reelectionist councilors Vincent Garcia, Morito Flores and Jimmiedon Plaza, and incumbent vice mayor Ian Villafor, who are all detainees, also joined the signing of the peace covenant.
They were escorted by personnel of Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station and National Bureau of Investigation.
The four incumbent officials were implicated in the murder of councilor Jolomar Hilario two years ago.